This drone becomes a flying manipulator! 🥏
Researchers at the The University of Tokyo developed this aerial robot.
Built with four pairs of ducted fans linked by actuated joints, Dragon can reshape itself mid-flight.
This allows it to grasp objects and perform tasks typically reserved for ground-based manipulators. Each segment has dual rotors, and its navigation stack calculates the most efficient shape for each object.
Total payload? More than 3 kilograms.
P.S. To increase Dragon's battery life, they consider allowing it to walk on the ground.